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toward the dropcloth。
He always kept Ashley's skull beneath the altar； safe in the dark。 Sometimes in the night he would wander downstairs to speak to Ashley and stroke the smooth ivory curve； but he always put Ashley back in his resting place。 Why； then； was the skull here on top of the altar； nestled among the relics and offerings？
Some of the other objects had been displaced as well： the floor at the foot of the altar was littered with dead flowers； stray coins； the powdery ash of incense sticks。 One of the plaster saints had toppled over； but the candles still burned； two on either side of Ashley； dripping pink and black wax onto the altar。 Arkady reached out to touch what was left of his brother； hoping the contact might give him an answer； or at least lessen his confusion and his fear。
The skull was as cold as a November wind； as cold as frozen earth。
〃What？〃 he whispered。 〃What's wrong？ What's happening？〃
The eye sockets retained their velvety tragic darkness； the teeth did not meet in reply。 But as Arkady stroked the dome of the skull； all the candles the four upon the altar； and the one he was carrying…suddenly flickered and then burned stronger than before。 But now their flames were a bright； cold blue。
A sure sign of evil spirits present in the room。
〃Ashley？〃 he whispered。 〃My brother？ Is it you？〃 But that made no sense。 Ashley was not evil。 Ashley would never hurt him。 Arkady groped under the altar for the sherry。 He would need it tonight。 When his fingers found the faceted glass of the decanter； he clutched it and started for the stairs。
But just before he was about to sweep the velvet curtain aside； he paused； then turned and went back to get Ashley。 This meant he must abandon his candle and ascend the stairs in darkness； but Arkady would not leave his brother down here alone with whatever spirits roamed tonight。
The first stair tread creaked when he rested his weight upon it。 With his bare toes he felt for the edge of the next stair； tried to ease his foot onto it without making a sound。 His eyes strained against the dark。 His shoulder brushed the wall…or did the wall lean in to crush him？ Under his feet the boards felt unpleasantly dry； almost furry。 He climbed two more stairs； three； four。
He was halfway to the top when he heard the light footsteps ing up behind him。
The stairs were dark； but the two faces seemed lit by an unhealthy glow from within。 Arkady could make out their sharp features； their drawn mouths； the tired gleam of their eyes through the cheap sunglasses they wore。 〃It's only you two；〃 he said。 〃You gave me a turn。〃
They started up the stairs toward him。
〃Look at us； Arkady；〃 said one of them。 His voice was only a rustle； like a voice sifting through dried moth wings。
〃We've waited too long；〃 said the other； and his voice was like a wind that blew from far away over a stagnant sea。 〃We can't find anyone。 We can't even look in the mirror。 And we have a show to do 。。。。 〃
Arkady kept backing up the stairs。 He heard his own breath sobbing in and out of his throat。 〃What do you want？〃
〃It's time； Arkady；〃 said the first one。 He smiled； and patches of ivory skin flaked away from his cheeks； powdering the stairs； mingling with the dust。
The other one smiled too。 His lips were caked with dry rouge； once red； now faded to dusty orange。 Even in this dim light； Arkady could see the delicate tracery of lines that webbed the twins' faces and disappeared beneath their sunglasses。
〃We need you；〃 said the first one。
〃It's easy。 You can join your brother。〃
〃There's a girl upstairs；〃 Arkady heard himself say。 〃Young； pretty。 You can have her 〃
The first one shook his head in mock reproach。 His ruby hair whipped his face。 〃No； Arkady。 We don't want your pretty girl； not yet anyway。 Next you'll be telling us to go find a whore on Bourbon Street。 We're hungry。 We know you。 We need you。〃
〃We love you； Arkady；〃 said the other； smiling even more widely。 One of his upper front teeth fell out of its socket and landed with a tiny plink on the stairs。 He picked it up and fitted it back into the ragged hole in his gum； still smiling。 There was no blood； not a drop。 〃You see？ Would you have our beauty wither and crack as your brother's did？ You can help us； Arkady。 You can feed us。 You know it's easy。〃
〃Easy 。 。 。〃 echoed the other。
They ascended the stairs toward him。 Arkady could not run； could not move； already his feet and his ankles felt withered； useless。 He wondered how they would feed。 Did they have a sort of proboscis that would thrust deep into his body to search out every last drop of life？ Or would they just bury their mouths in him； rend him with their teeth and let his life force flow into them？
Whatever it was； Ashley had felt it too； it was the last thing Ashley had felt； apart from a rope around his neck。 The thought gave Arkady a sick sort of fort。 He would try not to be afraid。
The twins kept climbing toward him。 Now he could see the silver sheen of their eyes behind their sunglasses。 He could see the minute cracks that glazed the surface of their skin。 He could see the thin layer of dust that coated their tongues。
When their graceful hands were almost upon him； he uttered a low desperate cry and hurled Ashley's skull at them。 It struck the redhead's chest and bounced away。 As the first dry hand touched his cheek； Arkady saw the skull tumbling from stair to stair； down into the darkness。
The twins fed for two hours。 They pressed themselves close against Arkady's body； and every crack and pore of their skin became a tiny mouth； a minuscule suckhole； questing deep into Arkady's tissue to extract every drop of moisture； of vitality； of whatever love might still be buried in Arkady's bitter heart。 They stopped occasionally to stretch toward each other and exchange long kisses oiled and flavored by the inner workings of Arkady。 Sex was only a stopgap measure for them now； a means to an end。 The usual sorts of lovemaking seemed pallid； tame。 Feeding was ever so much more sensual。
Eventually the redhead sat up and yawned。 The blond stopped sucking and regarded Arkady with mild curiosity。 Arkady's fingers were little more than bone now； but they still scraped weakly against the wooden floor of the landing where the twins had dragged him。 The husk of his head still creaked from side to side in blind denial； the dried leaf of his tongue still thrust from his crumbling mouth； questing for a drop of moisture。 There was no drop of moisture left anywhere in Arkady's ruined body； the blond twin knew that。
But they always took so long to die。
It was sort of interesting。
The redhead glanced over his shoulder； back toward the warren of rooms down the hall。 〃Arkady said there was a girl；〃 he suggested。
The blond smirked at him。 〃Greedy； greedy。〃
〃I don't care。。。。 〃
〃Let's have a look； then。〃
They tiptoed into Steve and Ghost's room and stood on either side of the bed。 There was a strong smell of blood。 Arkady had left no light on； and their eyesight was not as strong as their other senses； but they did not really need it。 They leaned over